Blue Hill Perspective: Should SaaS Cloud Adoption Still be Held Back by Security Concerns?

With a continued interest in software-as-a-service (SaaS) as a cloud model, concerns about SaaS security are also growing. Total cost of ownership (TCO) used to be the most frequently cited roadblock among potential SaaS customers. But as cloud networks become more frequently used for strategic and mission-critical business applications, security now comes at the top of the list.

According to a previous CapGemini study, fear of security breaches had been a significant factor holding back cloud adoption. However, the cloud also retains a spot on CIO priority lists because it offers the promise of reduced cost, faster time to market and operational efficiency.

So, is fear of security breaches really now holding back cloud adoption? No, I believe it is more about poor planning and a lack of understanding of how a cloud model like SaaS should be used.

About Dr. Alea Fairchild

Dr. Alea Fairchild is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Blue Hill Research. As a technology commentator, she has a broad presence both in the traditional media and online. Alea covers the convergence of technology in the cloud, mobile, and social spaces, and helps global enterprises understand the competitive marketplace and to profit from digital process redesign. She has expertise in the following industries: industrial automation, computer/networking, telecom, financial services, media, transport logistics, and manufacturing. Her clients are both commercial, government / public sector, NGO and trade associations.
Dr. Fairchild received her Ph.D in Applied Economics from Limburgs Universitair Centrum (now Univ. Hasselt) in Belgium, in the area of banking and technology. She has a Masters degree in International Management from Boston University/Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, and a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. She is a masters Olympic weightlifter for Belgium, having won many international medals.